The Quest for Productivity: A Lesson in Acceptance
For many of us, procrastination is an all-too-familiar companion. The urge to put off tasks until later can be overwhelming, leading to feelings of guilt and frustration. One writer decided to take on a challenge: to not procrastinate for a full week. What they discovered was that while productivity is possible, it's not always the solution to our problems.
The writer's experiment began with a daunting task list and a commitment to tackle each item without distraction. At first, it seemed like a breeze. They worked through their tasks with ease, feeling a sense of control and accomplishment. But as the days went on, reality set in. The new glasses they'd ordered arrived, and the prospect of dealing with the hassle of returning them became too much to bear.
"This is what we call procrastinatory cognition," said Fuschia Sirois, a psychology professor at Durham University. "Once you start procrastinating, your brain starts telling you all these reasons why you can't get started." The writer realized that their mind was playing tricks on them, and they were trapped in a cycle of avoidance.
Sirois' approach to understanding procrastination is centered around emotional regulation. She believes that tasks we find uncomfortable or anxiety-provoking are often the root cause of our procrastination. "You have a task that you feel uncomfortable about and brings up unpleasant emotions," she explained. "Procrastination is a way of managing those emotions, because when you put the task aside, you don't have to deal with those emotions."
So, how can we break free from this cycle? Sirois recommends identifying the emotions associated with a task, ranking them in intensity, and then facing them head-on. She also suggests changing internal dialogue from "I have to" or "I need to" thoughts into "I want to" and "I choose to." For the writer, imagining how excited their younger self would be to write for a living was key to tapping back into motivation.
The results of the experiment were not what the writer had expected. They did manage to get some work done, but the process left them feeling drained and defeated. The real breakthrough came when they realized that procrastination is not a personal failing, but rather a natural response to uncomfortable emotions.
In the end, the writer's experiment taught them that it's impossible to "never" procrastinate – it's just too ingrained in our nature. However, by acknowledging this fact and adopting a more compassionate approach, we can begin to work with our brains rather than against them. It's not about finding a magical solution to productivity, but about accepting ourselves as complex beings who need time to manage our emotions.
As Sirois put it, "We minimise procrastination and we joke about it, but it has real consequences." By understanding the root causes of our procrastination and working to address them, we can break free from the cycle of avoidance and tap into a sense of purpose and motivation that's not based on guilt or shame.
For many of us, procrastination is an all-too-familiar companion. The urge to put off tasks until later can be overwhelming, leading to feelings of guilt and frustration. One writer decided to take on a challenge: to not procrastinate for a full week. What they discovered was that while productivity is possible, it's not always the solution to our problems.
The writer's experiment began with a daunting task list and a commitment to tackle each item without distraction. At first, it seemed like a breeze. They worked through their tasks with ease, feeling a sense of control and accomplishment. But as the days went on, reality set in. The new glasses they'd ordered arrived, and the prospect of dealing with the hassle of returning them became too much to bear.
"This is what we call procrastinatory cognition," said Fuschia Sirois, a psychology professor at Durham University. "Once you start procrastinating, your brain starts telling you all these reasons why you can't get started." The writer realized that their mind was playing tricks on them, and they were trapped in a cycle of avoidance.
Sirois' approach to understanding procrastination is centered around emotional regulation. She believes that tasks we find uncomfortable or anxiety-provoking are often the root cause of our procrastination. "You have a task that you feel uncomfortable about and brings up unpleasant emotions," she explained. "Procrastination is a way of managing those emotions, because when you put the task aside, you don't have to deal with those emotions."
So, how can we break free from this cycle? Sirois recommends identifying the emotions associated with a task, ranking them in intensity, and then facing them head-on. She also suggests changing internal dialogue from "I have to" or "I need to" thoughts into "I want to" and "I choose to." For the writer, imagining how excited their younger self would be to write for a living was key to tapping back into motivation.
The results of the experiment were not what the writer had expected. They did manage to get some work done, but the process left them feeling drained and defeated. The real breakthrough came when they realized that procrastination is not a personal failing, but rather a natural response to uncomfortable emotions.
In the end, the writer's experiment taught them that it's impossible to "never" procrastinate – it's just too ingrained in our nature. However, by acknowledging this fact and adopting a more compassionate approach, we can begin to work with our brains rather than against them. It's not about finding a magical solution to productivity, but about accepting ourselves as complex beings who need time to manage our emotions.
As Sirois put it, "We minimise procrastination and we joke about it, but it has real consequences." By understanding the root causes of our procrastination and working to address them, we can break free from the cycle of avoidance and tap into a sense of purpose and motivation that's not based on guilt or shame.
! I think we've been conditioned to believe that productivity is the answer to everything, but really it's just a bunch of extra stress 
. I mean, who hasn't put off doing something because they're feeling overwhelmed? It's like our brains are trying to protect us from feelings of anxiety and discomfort 
.
. And her tip about changing internal dialogue is genius 
! Instead of beating ourselves up over putting things off, we should be trying to find ways to make it more manageable.
. We're not all just high-achievers who can just "get it done" - we're complex beings with feelings and emotions, and that's okay! 
By accepting ourselves as imperfect and in need of time to manage our emotions, I think we'll find a more sustainable path to productivity (and happiness) 
.
. I think we've been sold this idea that being productive is the key to happiness, but really it's just stress. We put so much pressure on ourselves to get stuff done and it's exhausting. The real breakthrough here is acknowledging that procrastination isn't always about laziness, it's about taking care of yourself.
... am I right?! The thing is, we need to acknowledge that procrastination isn't a personal failing, it's just our brain trying to cope with stuff. And honestly, Fuschia Sirois' approach makes total sense - acknowledging those emotions and changing our mindset can make all the difference 
. I'm definitely gonna try this out and see how it goes... wish me luck! 
. It's so easy to put off studying for an exam until the last minute, but then you're left feeling frazzled and stressed out 
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It's like our brains are hardwired to avoid tasks we find uncomfortable! 
Fuschia Sirois' stats show that 60% of people who experience anxiety and 80% of those with depression, are more likely to procrastinate. 
So yeah, it's like our brain is trying to protect us from feelings we don't wanna deal with. 
Anyway, the writer's experiment found out that breaking free from this cycle is not about being productive all the time, but about accepting ourselves and working with our brains. 
That 30% of people who were able to "choose" their thoughts (vs internalizing "I have to") had more success in managing their emotions. 
I know some ppl say it's about finding motivation and getting stuff done, but let's be real, life's not always easy. Sometimes the prospect of dealing with something uncomfortable is just too overwhelming. And that's okay! 
And sometimes it feels like the only thing we can do is let them stay forever! 
And when we do that, I think you'll find that motivation comes in a whole lot more naturally. 
It's like, we're trying to force ourselves into this tiny box of productivity when really we need to just relax and recharge. I mean, what's wrong with taking a step back and dealing with those uncomfortable emotions? 
And honestly, if Fuschia Sirois is right that procrastination is just our brain's way of managing anxiety, then maybe we should be embracing it instead of shaming ourselves for it. 
rather than beating ourselves up over not being productive 
. Maybe instead of trying to tackle everything at once, we should focus on tiny steps towards our goals? 
maybe that would help us find a better balance between getting stuff done and taking care of ourselves 
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